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Trading Online Voucher Scheme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 June 2020

Tuesday, 9 June 2020

Questions (288)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

288. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on a matter relating to the online trading voucher for businesses (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10033/20]

View answer

Written answers

The Trading Online Voucher Scheme is delivered nationwide through the 31 Local Enterprise Offices. The Scheme offers skills training, mentoring and financial support of up to €2,500 to help small and micro-businesses to develop their ecommerce capability.

I introduced new flexibilities to the Scheme in April including reducing the requirement for co-funding from 50% to 10% and allowing businesses to apply for a second voucher of up to €2,500 where they have successfully utilised their first one. There has been a positive response to these changes and significant uptake of the Scheme.

On 8th June I further enhanced the scheme and announced with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, Richard Bruton TD, a major expansion of the LEOs' Trading Online Voucher Scheme to help small and micro enterprises to get online quickly. We are expanding the Scheme by €14.2m after the Local Enterprise Offices received 3 years’ worth of applications in 3 months following the outbreak of COVID-19 in Ireland. Following a previous expansion of the Scheme in early April, total additional funding for the Scheme is now almost €20m in 2020. See: localenterprise.ie/Discover-Business-Supports

Trading Online Vouchers can be used for:

- development or upgrade of an e-commerce website, such as implementing online payments or booking systems

- purchase of internet related software - online advertising (subject to limits)

- development of an app

- development and/or implementation of a digital marketing strategy

- consultation with ICT experts

- training and support to develop and manage your online trading activity and subscriptions to low cost online retail platform solutions,

Full details on all COVID19 supports for business are available at: https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/

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